Star Tech Ventures

Star Tech Ventures is a Milan, Italy-based venture capital firm founded in 2021 and dedicated to early-stage investments in aerospace, space, defense, and dual-use technologies across Europe and Israel. The firm's flagship vehicle -- Star Tech Ventures Aerospace and Security -- was a 100 million euro early-stage fund managed by Italian asset manager Add Value SGR, making it one of the few dedicated institutional aerospace and defense VC platforms in Southern Europe. The thesis centered on backing European companies building technologies that strengthen European sovereignty, aerospace innovation, and defense capability, with dual-use as an explicit investment criterion. On 30 January 2025 Star Tech Ventures Aerospace and Security merged with Mountain Partners to create Mountain X -- positioned as the largest European dual-use defense and aerospace venture capital fund. Mountain X operates under the brand mountainx.vc, with General Partner Novica Mrdovic-Vianello leading the Milan office. Mountain X's stated mission is to build Europe's technological advantage to deter aggression and protect European sovereignty and freedom. Prior to the merger, Star Tech Ventures had a limited publicly disclosed portfolio, consistent with its early-stage pre-deployment phase and recent establishment date. All ongoing investment activity has moved to the Mountain X umbrella. The merger reflects a broader consolidation trend in European defense VC: by combining with Mountain Partners, the combined entity gains scale, cross-border deal flow, and the institutional credibility to attract the larger LP commitments that purpose-built defense technology funds require. Star Tech Ventures' contribution is its Southern European network and its established Italian regulatory and government relationships in the aerospace and dual-use sectors.